Indoors will welcome in the outdoors in 2017, says John Lewis

Retailer John Lewis is predicting "the outdoors will come indoors next year bringing a touch of nature into living spaces will create a contemporary design statement".

The department store’s annual retail report, for 2016, said for 2017: "Cacti will be the pot plant of choice. And for the less green fingered, faux plants will prove a popular alternative. Also taking its cue from nature, green will be the interior colour of the year."

The "how we shop, live and look" report reveals plenty of evidence of "brave, not beige" purchases in the home, where ornamental pineapples popular in home decor and plastic flamingos sales up 200 per cent.

John Lewis said 2016 has been the year of "big events" such as Brexit, "which will affect consumer confidence in the long-term".

The retailer said customers were shopping either "urgently", looking for "entertainment and inspiration", looking for advice, or shopping "on a whim".

Smartphone orders were up 60 per cent and Smartphone web traffic was up 30 per cent.

John Lewis said the "Goldilocks effect" of trialling goods was important, with feel, touch, smell, see and listen options given on relevant products.

Seasonal sales have grown, with Easter product up 99 per cent in five years and Halloween up nine per cent in a year.

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